North-East shaken by biggest quake in nine years

Shillong: A moderate intensity earthquake
measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale, the biggest in nine years,
shook the North-East early on Friday.
People ran out of their houses as the quake rocked
buildings and houses triggering panic. There was, however, no
damage to property, police said.

The quake, which occurred at 1.21 am with its
epicentre at Myanmar-India border region, was the fourth
moderate quake within a span of three weeks, officials at the
Central Seismological Observatory here said.

While the quake lasted for around 20 seconds, its
after-shocks were felt for over two minutes.

Two moderate intensity quakes, one measuring 5.6 on
the Richter Scale and another measuring 4.9 had shook the
region on August 12 and August 19. Another measuring 5.3 was
recorded on August 31.
The North-Eastern region, lying in the highest seismic
risk zone, has experienced some of the world`s worst quakes.

The 1897 quake that occurred in the Shillong plateau had left
1542 people dead.